Why HBO Go and HBO Max Are Gone, Do You Have Max, Plus How to Access Your HBO Subscriptions

It’s the end of an era for HBO Go, and more recently, for HBO Max. On July 31, 2020, WarnerMedia “sunsetted” cable-connected service HBO Go as the company switched up its streaming strategy. As part of the transition, HBO Now — which was rebranded as just “HBO” — and HBO Go customers were encouraged to sign up for new service HBO Max, a move that WarnerMedia hoped would clarify the difference between HBO Go, HBO Max, and HBO Now.

While HBO Max temporarily solved the confusion between the three streaming services, the now-named Warner Bros. Discovery recently made yet another change to their streaming platforms that left subscribers with questions. On May 23, 2023, HBO Max changed their name to Max. But what’s the difference?

From HBO Go to Max, here’s everything we know about the platform’s long transitional journey and what this means for subscribers.

WHEN DID HBO GO END?

HBO Go service officially ended July 31, 2020.

WHY WAS HBO GO DISCONTINUED? WHAT REPLACED HBO GO?

With the launch of HBO Max, WarnerMedia hoped to solidify HBO Max’s position in the streaming landscape. As the company put it in a 2020 press release, “Implementing these changes allows us to further strengthen HBO Max as the primary platform for accessing not only the robust offering of HBO but also a vast WarnerMedia library of acquired content and originals, while also simplifying our consumer offering in the market.”

DID HBO NOW END?

Yep. As of December 17, 2020, HBO Now was also sunsetted, and folded into what was at the time known as HBO Max.

HBO GO VS HBO MAX VS HBO NOW: WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?

When it first launched in early 2010, HBO Go provided existing HBO customers an opportunity to stream their favorite shows and movies anytime, anywhere. Because the service was linked to customers’ cable company credentials, only those who purchased HBO through their cable package could access it, and authentication was required upon log-in.

In 2015, Warner launched HBO Now, a standalone streaming service that opened up HBO titles to cord-cutters. Priced at $14.99/month, HBO Now proved to be popular with younger, streaming-savvy users, many of whom subscribe through a third-party such as Roku or Amazon Fire Stick.

That brings us to HBO Max. The streaming service combined the best of HBO with the best of WarnerMedia to give viewers access to a wide array of programming, from WB series like Friends and The Big Bang Theory to original shows to DC Comics movies. HBO Max also debuted its entire slate of 2021 movies the same day they came out in theaters.

CAN I WATCH MAX ON ROKU? IS MAX ON FIRE STICK?

Max is available on Roku and Amazon Fire Stick devices.

CAN I WATCH NEW HBO RELEASES ON MAX?

Yes! For a full list of what’s new on HBO and Max, check out the following post: New on Max.

BUT WAIT, WHAT HAPPENED TO HBO MAX?

In May 2023, HBO Max shortened their title to Max. Luckily, nothing has really changed for subscribers aside from the new name and blue logo. On the back end, however, Warner Bros. Discovery announced HBO Max would become Max to reflect that they’ll be combining HBO Max with content from the Discovery+ platform.

Rest assured, Discovery+ will remain a standalone streaming service despite this because, being priced at a lower point, they don’t want to deter some 20 million subscribers from the service.

So essentially, Max is the same streaming service you know and love with more content and less letters.

HOW TO SWITCH FROM HBO MAX TO MAX

Most subscribers actually don’t have to do anything. If you previously watched HBO Max on Amazon, Cox, Roku, VIZIO TV, or Xfinity devices, the HBO Max app will automatically become Max.

Android, Apple, DIRECTV, LG TV, PlayStation, Samsung TV, and Xbox users will be prompted to download a new Max app upon opening the HBO Max app for the first time after the changeover.

Suppose you had an HBO Max subscription as a result of being an HBO cable subscriber or you subscribed as an add-on in another streaming service. You’ll still have access to Max if you got HBO through the following providers: AT&T, Cox, Cricket, DIRECTV, Dish, Hulu, Optimum, Prime Video Channels, Spectrum, Verizon, Xfinity, and YouTube TV.

HOW TO TURN HBO MAX INTO MAX FOR FREE

WarnerMedia has made it easy for customers to transition to HBO Max from Max. Though the HBO Max app was removed from primary platforms, a pop-up now appears encouraging users to sign up for the Max. If you’re somehow still on HBO Go or HBO Now, the same applies: download the new Max app, and though you might have a more robust sign-up process in the latter two cases, you should still be able to transition your account as long as your financial info is the same/current.

For a full list of cable and satellite TV providers that offer Max, head to the HBO Help Center.